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Nelspruit is the former name of a South African town nowadays called Mbombela. It's the capital of the Eastern Transvaal province (also renamed, now: Mpumalanga). Just north of town lie the vast botanic gardens of Lowveld.
The city has over 220,000 inhabitants.
Nelspruit or Mbombela is located in the northeast of South Africa, at only a hundred kilometers from the Mozambique border, 330 kilometers east of Johannesburg, and just north of Swaziland. The city is situated on the Crocodile River. West of Nelspruit lies the Drakensberg.
The main industries in Nelspruit are paper production, canning of locally produced fruit, furniture manufacture and wood production. Around the city many oranges, mangos, bananas and avocados are grown. The area also produces so-called macadamia nuts.
Tourism is of major importance to local economy. Nelspruit is the gateway to the famous Kruger National Park. Tourists on their way to Mozambique also spend the night here. In reverse, many people from Mozambique and Swaziland do their monthly shopping in Nelspruit.
The city airport is situated ten kilometers northeast of Nelspruit. Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport is easily reachable by rental car. From the city center follow highway N4, to turn north at Karino. The route to the airport is clearly signposted.
Thanks to the FIFA 2010 World Cup public bus transportation has improved considerably. Busses run to various destinations in and around town but also to the Kruger National Park.
A rental car is an ideal means of transportation to discover Nelspruit and surroundings. The roads and signposting are good. Around the center of Nelspruit there are P+R areas where you can park your car to continue your journey with public transport.
To start your visit of the Kruger National Park there is no shortage of accommodation in and around Nelspruit. You can stay in simple guesthouses, but also in luxurious hotels and chalets. The National Park is one of the top attractions of South Africa. Therefore we recommend booking your accommodation in Nelspruit well in advance.
For more information about Nelspruit we recommend Google and the following sources: